It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

A very merry, sandy Christmas to you all!

Things to do in the car

I’ve been sewing a cute little outfit for my friend’s 1 year old daughter for Christmas – had this project planned and everything purchase a good 6 weeks ago – but why do it in 6 weeks when you can to do it in 3 days??

I’ll tell you why – at this time of year all bets are off!

Anyway I was putting the finishing touches on the cute little bonnet in the car on the way over there yesterday, in fact, that 1 hour trip was quite productive…

 don't worry, it's a lite!

 

Lacey's bonnet

 girls were born to multitask

Now, if only I had a full-time driver at my disposal, imagine how much more I could get done!

It's a wrap

How's your Christmas gift list going? We’ve found that as long as you prepare in advance, a hamper of goodies can be the best solution – and making said goodies and putting it all together can be lots of fun too, so this year we’ve come up with another homemade hamper idea.

Marinated Kalamata Olives
Spiced Onion Chutney

Biscotti

Spiced Cherries

It's such a pleasure shopping for the tasty ingredients at the local shops and farmers market!

The best thing is that each gift can be given individually as well, solving all our gift giving dilemmas of all sizes!

Each gift will be presented in a brown paper gift bag or a basket - always with a big bow and a gorgeous letterpress gift tag from Ruby Victoria...

Have I forgotten anything?

Ode to neighbours

There once was a chap named Day

He fell in love with a lass called May

They settled in Seddon

Thought about weddin'

And maybe they will one day

Perks of the job

Now and then there's a perk. Last night I was lucky to score a ticket to le Concours des Vins, FACCI's annual Victorian wine awards at Zinc, Federation Square.

It was a dreary, rainy evening outside, but inside the 350 wines that were judged were all available for tasting. Of course, being a French event there was a delectable selection of French cheese to accompany the wine and  we also got to take our fabulous glass home!

Wandering through Fed Square's Atrium, I was taken by these artful summer displays - kinda like this Ode to Summer I created in our entrance on the weekend...

Lazy Days

  Anyone for cricket?

Summertime

The tip-off

The hunt has begun.

I've put the word out for anyone who sees one to point me in the direction of an old wine box so that I too can carry a week's worth of groceries on the back of my bike. I was chatting to my colleague this morning when he suggested I try Nick's Cellars in High St Armadale or Prince Wine Store in Sth Melbourne. They sometimes sell them off for nothing but a few bucks.

I've scoured eBay and came across this '96 Penfolds 6 bottle box...

Source

But I think I'm looking for something a little more obscure. I ducked into the Prince at lunchtime today and also CloudWine to no avail. Prince don't have any at the moment and CloudWine keeps all his - he did suggest Gray's second hand store across the road...

They had an assortment of lacquered 6-bottlers for $29 each, but still - Penfolds, Brown Brothers, Coldstream Hills? None of them were calling me...

As I pondered, I found myself wandering into one of the most beautiful florists in Melbourne, In Full Bloom. I forgot all about my worries when I spied the old clawfoot bath in the window brimming with fluffy white Hydrangea - just like a big floral bubble bath!

And then, a funny thing happened on the way to the car...

This time I can't say 'I wish I had my camera!'

Date Night: My Punkin & Me

It was such a mild evening last night, and with homemade Pumpkin, Sage and Ricotta Lasagne on the menu we turned it into a date night and dined in our courtyard.

Yep it was delicious.

Just me, my man, our dog and the caterpillar.....Hey -WHAT??!

After dinner we strolled over to Whitten Oven, home to the mighty Bulldogs and Rossi enjoyed a wriggle in the thick, soft grass. Bliss.

Put Vietnam on your plate

I first found out about this tour through a blogger I very much admire, MOO I MADE IT!

She has covered the tour so well that I'm not even going to attempt a full write up - just want to show you some highlights from the day we spent with Mei Ling.

It was a grey, humid morning when I arrived on the Footscray Market Rooftop (appropriate, considering we would be immersing ourselves in Vietnamese culture for the day). I had no idea just how much you can see from up here and wish I'd take a photo!

Our group of 8 began in the Fruit and Veg section of the market - and got to find out about all those interesting looking leafy bunches and what to do with them.

'droopy parsley'

grocery store

Mei Ling suggested seed packets as a way to get to know names and 'faces' of the various vegetables

 You can buy eels, fish and shellfish fresh from the tanks everyday!

 

 Flowers are so cheap at Little Saigon

 

 Yes, they tasted as good as they looked

A lesson for all those ladies out there at booty camp...

On the hunt again...

If you're anything like me now and then you'll come across a brilliant idea and won't be able to rest until it's real. When I was catching up on my favourite blogs this week I came across one of those ideas!
Charlotte at Chic Cyclists has been customising her beautiful blue 70's 10 speed and she's added a wine box for grocery day onto the rear rack - it even has a picture of a bicycle on it! My first reaction was
'Of Course! What else?!'
I started my Monday night grocery shopping by bike routine yesterday and Certainly could have used some sturdy storage like this on the Pashley. It's perfect because these wine boxes are quite light on their own.

Of course, had I realised this 2 months ago when we were moving offices, I would have grabbed one of the many wooden wine boxes from our office and stored it safely until this very day. Alas now I must begin the hunt. Started with eBay, and also checked our storeroom for any clues about which wineries actually use these boxes (almost everything is cardboard these days), I'm in luck, I found a few examples to keep in mind. eBay has a glorious range of french brands available internationally, however I don't really want to pay for shipping (and that defeats the point of repurposing to reduce impact on the environment too).
I really think a Cycles Gladiator box would be very appropriate but I'm not sure if they even use them... one way to find out!
So I will keep my eye out, will I be lucky enough to pick one up from the trash à la Charlotte? Wait and see...

Livin' La Dolce Vita - Day 2

After enjoying an energy packed plate of bacon and eggs on the sunny Sunday morning, we headed south down the King Valley Hwy to pick up where we left off.

La Cantina
It was shaping up to be another hot day and I got to ride shotgun next to Andrea for the first leg. Our first stop was the stunning cellar door of La Cantina made of Glenrowan granite. The range of preservative-free wines was very popular and I took home no less than 10 bottles (my rule is now to buy at least 2 bottles of a wine I like, this way I'll be less reluctant to drink it!) A market meandered through the garden and I picked up a cute white trilby for the princely sum of $13. One thing that has struck me about each winery we visited is just how lush and green the grass is everywhere, I guess their water restrictions aren't as restrictive as ours in Melbourne.

Gracebrook
This place is simply amazing. The main building takes it's cue from the 110 year old stables on the site, and large doors spill out onto a vast raised wooden deck, tables and the band were up here for the festival. Descending the stairs onto the lawn, the tasting table was set up in a shady spot under an old tree, we selected a bottle of their Savingin and ordered a couple of scrumptios platters, enjoying morning tea under the shade of a marquee.

Beautiful spot for a wedding don't you think?

After a splash under the sprinklers, we swapped shotguns and were on our way...

Too pretty to eat? Nope.

Dal Zotto

EVERYONE was looking forward to this stop. Once again there was a fabulous shaded area to put our feet up after tasting was done and selections were made. This is where our Captain got really lucky!

There were helicopter joy flights running which offered great views through the valley and everyone put in for his ride as a thank you for driving us all around. When I raced over to book him in I ended up joining him - just check out these views...

Overlooking the King Valley

The gang at Dal Zotto

Pizzini

Dal Zotto had on offer gorgeous little Prosecco 'Bambino's' and everyone enjoyed a couple of cocktails while waiting for us to return to earth...

Pizzini
Saving the best for last? Well I couldn't possibly choose my favourite stop on this road trip but Pizzini was where we ended the adventure. I found myself in the tasting room for an hour and a half - and I even got to experience the $110 Rubacouri Sangiovese - a rare treat. Well because I lingered, I missed out on lunch but found everyone shading themselves under umbrellas - enjoying the live music by Maurice Milani. Before long we were all up, shoes off dancing the afternoon away on that soft lawn. Well, all but one. The Captain was pretty comfortable minding the seats and tucking into custard-filled profiteroles.

 

Salute!

Things were a bit quiet on the way home - always the sign of a good weekend. Even though I missed the Gnocchi rolling competition I just absolutely had a BALL this weekend, what a great bunch of people to go away with! Plans are now in motion for a Brewery Road Trip for our Captain - let's give him the weekend off!

A BIG thank you to Kat and Matt for taking all these fine pictures of the weekend x

Livin' La Dolce Vita - Day 1

Let's start at the start. We piled into Trusty Tarago and Lovely Lotus, and got to our first destination by about 12:30...

Sam Miranda

Here we purchased our Wines of King Valley souvenir tasting glasses and started with the three sparklings - unfortunately the Prosecco was still a week away from the Cellar Door. Making our way through the list we selected our poisons (mine was the Arneis) and headed out to the alfresco area to enjoy some delicious pizzas surrounded by a cicada serenade.

The Sweet Life

Wood Park Wines

Not on the festival list - this was a special recommendation from friends. These guys are based right next to the Milawa Cheese Company, Milawa Chocolate Shop and Muse Gallery. After picking up some supplies for the evening, we headed off again.

Brown Brothers

We were welcomed through Brown Brother's gates with a taste of their NV Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier sparkling blend, before finding a shady table with a good view of the jazz quartet. The best thing about the weekend was that we took our time at each place, and the days didn't slip away too quickly. Here we cooled off in front of water-spraying fans and tried Gundowring's Orange and Cardamom ice cream.

King River Estate
Our final stop, here we tasted a Sparkling Shiraz and Sparkling Merlot, and savoured many other wines for which this region is know best, their Vermentino was especially good. We were also just in time to catch the owner and winemaker Trevor Knaggs speaking about the benefits of biodynamic viticulture.

Once settled at Moyhu Caravan Park, we all dived into the pool and enjoyed a BBQ feast for dinner before heading off to get a good nights sleep - we'd need it if Saturday was anything to go by!

Can't wait to tour Milawa and Oxley by bike one of these days!

I heart Fridays

What a great day! When I got home from work we went digging for potatoes (my first attempt ever at growing them) and came up with about 10 beautiful nicolas which we roasted with thyme and sea salt for a very easy but tasty dinner! I have never tasted them so fresh!

And before that I was having a chat to Stephen from Bakerlite about how my new bike is wearing in, when he said he'd love to talk to me about some ideas for his new website for next year!!!

A full rundown of La Dolce Vita is coming up soon...

Bike Path Karma

Oh how I wish I was as organised as some of my favourite bloggers and carrying a camera with me at all times!

I'd have snapped a pic of the view I had on the way to work this morning, it was a lady riding in front of me wearing a t-shirt quoting H.H. the XIV Dalai Lama

‘Today I am fortunate to have woken up, I am alive, I have a precious human life,

I am not going to waste it.I am going to use all my energies to develop myself,

to expand my heart out to others, to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings,

I am going to have kind thoughts towards others,

I am not going to get angry or think badly about others,

I am going to benefit others as much as I can.’

I've had great bike path karma this week, it's great striking up a quick conversation with another commuter while waiting at the lights!

Good Pub Grub

It seems that our friendly little local the Mona Castle is doing some BIG things. Earlier this year they won Vega FM's Best Melbourne Pub and now some lucky duck can win the whole place for a whole day!

Upon hearing about their fantastic Parma & Pot Wednesdays, we headed over with our neighbours to check it out.

I'm not generally known for chosing the parma from the menu when there are so many other things to try, but I've gotta say, this one was good! For $12, these parmas are HUGE - with all the trimmings of course. A hot day, great parma and a cold beer - what a winning combination.

Oooh and more good local news, I just discovered that my most favourite shop in Seddon has it's own blog! I always drool over Sedonia's gorgeous collection of clothes, toys, gifts and bags but must confess that I have only ever made one purchase - number 2 could be just around the corner though, I need to go and have a closer look at those wicker bicycle baskets in the window, I think it could be just the upgrade for Pashley!

Lovely day for a ride!

The heatwave has finally let up a bit in Melbourne, (well, it's only 30 today instead of the 34 we've seen the last few days). I decided to ride today - I'll have to get used to this weather sooner or later. On the way to work I was being passed by yet another lycra crew when one of them turned to me and said "Magnificent bicycle!"

Well Lycra Man, you made my day!

Ever wonder what you'd miss if you didn't ride?

Together at last!

Last Friday night I took delivery of my beautiful Pashley Princess Sovereign. I know I write this a week later, I haven't wanted to stop riding! Since picking it up a week ago I've taken her to work twice, Williamstown for fish'n'chips as well as running a few errands around town.

She's definitely heavier and slower than my old Great Vic mountain bike, but I feel so much more comfortable sitting higher, and I haven't had to rethink an outfit yet. We picked up heavy duty locks yesterday and next step is considering bicycle insurance.

We're heading along the Maribynong River this evening for Friday night drinks at the Boathouse with Matt and Kat, can't wait!

Thank you so much to Stephen @ Bakerlite Trading for putting up with my nagging (apparently I wasn't even the worst!)

Pashley & Me

I have to say, an evil grin spreads across my face as I catch up with my favourite bicycle blogs and see that all you poor American girls are bracing yourselves for Winter, we are finally enjoying some late spring sunshine here with nothing but summer to look forward to. And of course I now get to wear all my sweet skirts and dresses that have been hiding in the back of the wardrobe for months - I even find myself asking - what should I wear with Pashley today?

I am looking forward to becoming much stronger after a few weeks riding Pashley. When I started riding my old mountain bike - I had to walk it up some small hills in the beginning and although I haven't done this yet with Pashley, it still feels a lot harder to climb them. I love these signals that show I'm getting stronger every day!

The upside of down

It's also been a very big week (well actually 2 years) for my very close friend Tamra Mercieca, she has just received a delivery of 950 copies of her first book 'The upside of down - A personal journey and toolkit to overcome depression'. She is now a published author!!

A BIG congratulations to you Tamz and anyone can now purchase the book online or wait until Feb and it will be in all good bookstores. Also, coming up on December 9th is the book launch - at the Order of Melbourne -you're all invited!!

Catching Up

Can't believe I haven't mentioned the fabulous Passionfoods work dinner (love the new website guys!) last Monday night. It was the first time I'd been to soulmama on St Kilda's foreshore and it's a stunning space catering to vegetarian and vegan diets. The food was incredible - there is a big buffet that you select your dishes from - a wonderful combination of salads, dahl, curries and the place has a really relaxed vibe.

On Thursday night Tamra and I began making our vintage sundresses - I'm looking forward to strolling down to Williamstown in the short one this summer!

A very very big week

Gamon St

Well Trav's birthday week started on Friday night -we me friends at Docklands for a wind down drink before hitting DFO Southwharf for a new wardrobe - on the way hope we stopped at Touks for a very late dinner and coasted home on the bikes with no helmets - that felt so nice!

Saturday was a beautiful day to ride to work and then we caught up with the old gang at Tracy's housewarming in Sunbury.

Sunday saw us meeting our new Maidstone mates at Fairbairn Park and Rossi was desperately trying to get in the water with Albert the Golden Retriever and Toast the Pomeranian X. Then we went and saw Tamz's friend's band Jarek play at Hardimans in Kensington before spending a delicious afternoon at Little Creatures Brewery Hall in Fitzroy. The Rogers Amber Ale is my new favourite and I'm wondering whether they actually hire out those cute red bikes hanging out in the entrance?

Monday night I missed tennis again because I was busy baking Trav a chocolate tart for work, and an espresso syrup chocolate cake for last night (the cake wasn't a bit success, I think it needs to be eaten when still warm).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE!!! xxx
Tuesday morning I awoke nice and early and knocked together a fabulous bacon & egg breakfast in bed for my Love! I gave him a smart Fossil wallet, we then met family at the Station Hotel for an amazing dinner. I had wagyu beef rostbiff and it was superb! Coffee and cake at our place afterwards. He was spoiled with all sorts of gifts - mostly beer and cash!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES!!
Today is the day my new Pashley Princess Sovereign will arrive in Port. The coundown is really on now - hopefully I'll be riding it around this weekend! Oh - and it was even spotted this morning...see?

Not a wordsmith

A month ago I entered a competition through Bicycle Victoria - during the promotion for Ride to Work Day. I had to describe my commute to work in 40 words or less. I thought it would be a fitting day to share it with you after what happened this morning, the only problem is that on my first go I used 145 words. This seems to be a general problem of mine. I find it difficult to say something in a reduced amount of words (Oh wait - I have trouble condensing) But I wanted to show you both versions just so you can see how important the details are...

This is what I entered...

Beginning in Seddon, I travel along Footscray Road, and marvel at the spectacular view of the Bolte Bridge from Docklands. Over Webb Bridge and along Yarra’s Edge, I turn onto tree lined Lorimer Street and am glad I rode today.

What I really wanted to say was...

My commute is a feast for all my senses. I begin the ride through wafts of jasmine along the charming streets of Seddon. Travelling down the Footscray Road bikepath the Melbourne Markets offer up the scent of fresh fish and produce. Docklands are a wonder in themselves – the sight of the Southern Star, the aroma of fresh bread and pastries fills the air from Aldi and the Harbour Esplanade provides great window shopping and of course – the stunning view of the Bolte Bridge beyond Victoria Harbour. Shooting out of the spiral Webb Bridge always makes me feel like a pinball then I enjoy the peace of Yarra’s Edge before crossing onto Lorimer street for the last leg of my journey and my nose is filled with the smell of Vegemite from nearby Kraft. I’d miss out on all of this if I drove to work! 

Goes without saying that I didn't win the iPhone!

Bike Rage

Well it was going to happen - and I am suprised it took so long. I had my first bike rage incident today on my way to work. Riding along the road on Lorimer Street, I switched over the the shared footpath to avoid being held up by a bus along the way. I politely said 'Bike on the right' as I tried to pass 2 pedestrians who were taking up the whole footpath and I'd just passed them as I heard 'You should ride on the road - not the footpath!' 
Just as quickly I turned around and called back 'It's a shared footpath' pointing at the very obvious  sign, but whoever it was had already disappeared.

Honestly, although there is a shared bike/pedestrian path along Lorimer, I still prefer riding on the road and you'll only find me on the path if there's roadworks or a slow bus.

It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses. - Hit it!

What an exciting weekend! On Friday night we joined some of Trav's work friends at a special screening of the Blues Brothers at the Astor Theatre, a stunning 1930's cinema which screens a mix of old and new these days. I love that we could bring a drink in and there was a 20 minute intermission. Don't know if Trav had as much fun though - he was sitting between Mick and I who were both religiously reciting each and every line!

The Astor during Intermission

At Passionfoods on Saturday I discovered that we'd won Best Victorian Organic Retailer of the Year for 2009! I know I'm definitely in the right place! At Trav's parent's place that night we caught up with family and his Aunty Lee presented us with his grandfather's war medals, she has offered to pay for the framing of them as an engagement/wedding gift. I was overwhelmed and I know this means so much to Trav.

On Sunday we woke late and got ourselves looking spiffy for the Yarraville Village Lunch. It was a perfect spring day with the sun breaking through the clouds as we strolling down the red carpet into the buzzing marquee. We took our seats and introduced ourselves to our neighbours for the day - Dean & Karen and Deb & Nandoor from Maidstone and Lena and the girls from Dental 4 U. It was everyone's first time there and all commented on what a good turnout they got and how professional the wait staff from VU were. We began with Bakers Delight bread and Nicolas Olives, then a selection of gorgeous dumplings from Yim Yam.

Next up - a delicious onion tart from Hausfrau, then mouthwatering roast duck on a noodle pancake from The Bank. Dessert was a very generous piece of Tiramisu from Cafe Terroni and we finished off with delectable Petit Four from Alfa Bakehouse.

We also enjoyed Little Creatures Bright Ale and Galli Estate wines. We were so thrilled with the menu as we haven't had the chance to try Yim Yam, The Bank or Cafe Terroni yet, it's just so easy to stick to our favourites but there are so many good choices in our area.

We listened to a lighthearted message from our Mayor and then enjoyed the fashion parade from local stores. I just can't believe we didn't get a picture together while we were looking so smashing! I was even asked if I was one of the models and I now I can't prove it without a pic! Great shot of the tiramisu though.

The only thing I hope they improve for next year is more speakers throughout the marquee as it was difficult to hear the speakers from where we were sitting.

Ride to Work Day

Today is National Ride to Work Day in Australia and I’m taking part for the first time. The weatherman threatened rain but I awoke to a calm dry morning and met friends Andrea and David at the Westgate Punt. I’ve been looking forward to trying this out – it will cut out 2/3 of my riding but the trip can take just as long depending on what time the punt leaves. There has been a big push to get this going full time again and there’s a lot of interest but of course – no one wants to pay for it! The service opened especially for today in the hope of drumming up more demand for the future. The rain came as we crossed the Yarra and we huddled together under the big red tarp. I enjoyed the novelty of it but felt a bit like I’d cheated – definitely didn’t get the aerobic benefit that I normally would. But I do think I’d use the Punt now and then and hope to gather some friends for a trip to St Kilda one weekend when the weather improves. It was also nice to catch up on Andrea’s wedding plans -finally I have someone to plan with!

Westgate Punters!

The Westgate Bridge viewed from the Punt

Well the verdict from Trav’s workmates was good – in fact they all thought it must be his birthday because otherwise why would he bring in dessert?? He was almost to the point of pulling out his drivers licence to prove that his birthday isn’t for another 2 weeks. Anyway a birthday request has been put in for the same tart – but I have something else up my sleeve!

Me I sew

Spring in Melbourne is just gorgeous but still very unpredictable. There may be a strong burst of sunshine in the afternoon but it will then rain for 20 minutes before the clouds break up and sunshine returns. Maybe that’s why I’ve been knocked over with another cold in the past few days. But enough about that. I’ve also been very very busy over the last few weeks. I like that because I’m being inspired and my mind is occupied, but too busy to blog about my adventures is no good. Here I go catching up again…

I have had so much joy with the sewing machine as I whipped up a travel set from 2 entirely free patterns I found on the web and also used a bag I already have as a guide.

Isn’t it true that some things are born out of necessity, bringing my clothes to work on Mondays, I didn’t want my wardrobe on show for all in the office to see. I started searching for a garment bag I liked and found absolutely nothing. Nada. Zippo. So I turned to my old favourite Florence Broadhurst to see if she could inspire me – her range of fabrics and wallpaper is available exclusively through Signature Prints in Sydney and now and then they have a remnants sale of 1 or 2 metre lengths It was my lucky day – the Japanese Blue Ikeda fabric was just $60 a metre! (that’s less than half price).

Here is the result…

Garment Bag Instructions

Toiletry Bag Instructions

My own design!

As I wrote this I sneaked a peek back at the Signature Prints sale – this set would look so lovely in The Cranes – Light Rouge and Palms in Purple – if only I went away more often to justify it, but still, there are some gorgeous gift ideas right here too..

Speaking of gifts, my second project was this cute teddy bear for a 1st birthday coming up on Christmas day. I’ve made the larger bear for Lacey’s mum Deborah, and now she’ll have her very own – this will be the true test of my sewing strength, will a really short child be able to pull this one apart?

This is for Lacey

and here is my first one - Deborah's!

I’ve recently bought a bunch of retro clothing patterns and am keen to get some done in time for summer – Tamra will also be making one of the dresses and we’re going to check out the big sale at Spotlight Braybrook this Thursday night! Not to mention a Yarraville fabric sale I just discovered coming up in November!

It was my boss’s birthday last week so I made my trusty Lemon and Lime Tart from The Naked Chef and dazzled everyone in the office! Travis has been so helpful during my wrestles with MS Access so I decided to make him one too – he took it to work today, I wonder how that went down the with boys?